Carrie Manolakos News

The Transcendence Theatre Company (TTC) has partnered with Benziger Family Winery to develop their very own Meritage blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel called PAINT THE UNIVERSE. PAINT THE UNIVERSE is the guiding theme for the Transcendence 2014 season, reminding us all that the power to change the world lives in each and every one of us.

The Michael Morones Foundation today announced additional performers includingLaura Benanti for a one-night only benefit concert entitled Broadway Battles Bullying to take place on Monday, April 14 at 7:00 p.m. at New York University's Skirball Center for the Performing Arts. The benefit and silent auction, which will be hosted by Shakina Nayfack, will raise money for the newly created Michael Morones Foundation, which works to educate communities about youth suicide prevention and the effects of bullying. The benefit concert is presented by an honorary host committee of Broadway, screen, and music veterans including Sir Ian McKellen, Sir Patrick Stewart, Mary-Louise Parker, Paula Cole, Megan Hilty, Jonathan Groff, and Julia Murney, who have all generously donated their support to the Michael Morones Foundation.

The Michael Morones Foundation today announced a one-night only benefit concert entitled Broadway Battles Bullying to take place on Monday, April 14 at 7:00 p.m. at New York University's Skirball Center for the Performing Arts. The benefit and silent auction will raise money for the newly created Michael Morones Foundation, which works to educate communities about youth suicide prevention and the effects of bullying. The benefit concert is presented by an honorary host committee of Broadway, screen, and music veterans including Sir Ian McKellen, Sir Patrick Stewart, Mary-Louise Parker, Paula Cole, Megan Hilty, Jonathan Groff, and Julia Murney, who have all generously donated their support to the Michael Morones Foundation.

The Johnny Mercer Foundation and the American Music Theatre Project (AMTP) at Northwestern University will present the 9th Annual Johnny Mercer Foundation Songwriters Project. The weeklong songwriting workshop for emerging songwriters and writing teams will take place from June 22 through 28, on Northwestern's Evanston campus.

BroadwayWorld.com, the largest, most comprehensive theatre site on the net, recently announced the newest addition to its line-up of original, engaging, star-filled TV programs- YouTube sensation and Broadway vet Natalie Weiss with her hit series that's sure to entertain - BREAKING DOWN THE RIFFS. We are excited to exclusively bring you the latest episode, in which Natalie breaks down the riffs of Carrie Manolakos with Natalie Beck. Check out the full episode below!

Tony-nominated composers Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, Andy Jones (Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella), Heidi Blickenstaff (The Little Mermaid), Ashley Brown (the original Mary Poppins), Merle Dandridge (Tarzan, Aida), Josh Strickland (the original Tarzan), Andrew Keenan-Bolger (Newsies), and Alton Fitzgerald White (The Lion King), will join 4,500 students and teachers representing 93 groups from 26 states and the District of Columbia at the 2014 Junior Theater Festival, it was announced today by Timothy Allen McDonald, founding Chairman of iTheatrics and the Junior Theater Group. The Junior Theater Festival is being held January 17, 18 and 19 at the Cobb Galleria in Atlanta.

In 2013, I turned 28, which apparently is one of several years at the end of your 20s where basically your life hits the fan and sudden changes surround you. I looked around, and everyone else seemed so happy. Then, I breathed and realized that I have plenty to be happy about. In 2013 I became BroadwayWorld.com's official theatre recording critic and have been exposed to some incredible albums since accepting that title. Some I have loved; others I have not. Regardless of my feelings towards the albums themselves, these are the top 20 songs from 2013 I simply cannot get out of my mind.

Highlights this week include a HIT LIST concert at 54 Below, the 2013 Hammerstein Awards, the opening of A CHRISTMAS STORY, and more!

Just last night, Jeremy Jordan, Krysta Rodriguez, Andy Mientus, Carrie Manolakos starred in HIT LIST at 54 Below. The second season of NBC's Smash featured a fictional new Broadway musical called HIT LIST, written by characters played by Jeremy Jordan (Newsies, The Last 5 Years) and Andy Mientus (Carrie, Spring Awakening), and starring Krysta Rodriguez (First Date,The Addams Family). The fictional musical opened at Manhattan Theatre Workshop and then transferred to Broadway, opening at the Barrymore Theatre and winning seven Tony Awards. HIT LIST, a modern fable about identity and the price of fame, tells the tragic love story of a wannabe pop singer who transforms herself to become a star and the hidden songwriter she uses to get there - but at what cost? Check out photos from the special concert event below!

Coming up this week, 54 BELOW, the performance venue located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz and beyond:

54 Below just welcomed a part of its December line-up for a special performance preview, including the cast of 'HIT LIST' -- a fictional musical created for NBC's popular series SMASH. Jeremy Jordan (Newsies, The Last 5 Years), Andy Mientus (Carrie, Spring Awakening), Krysta Rodriguez (First Date ,The Addams Family), and Carrie Manolakos (Wicked, Mamma Mia!) will star in the concert production, and BroadwayWorld's Richard Ridge was there to share in their excitement about the project. Click below to watch interviews, plus a performance preview!

54 Below just welcomed a part of its December line-up for a special performance preview, including Tony Award-winner Chita Rivera (West Side Story, Chicago, Bye Bye Birdie, Fiddler on the Roof) and the cast of 'HIT LIST' -- Jeremy Jordan (Newsies, The Last 5 Years), Andy Mientus (Carrie, Spring Awakening), Krysta Rodriguez (First Date ,The Addams Family), and Carrie Manolakos (Wicked, Mamma Mia!). Check out photos from the previews below!

Coming up this week, 54 BELOW, the performance venue located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz and beyond:

Coming up this week, 54 BELOW, the performance venue located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz and beyond:

Jared Zirilli of the current Broadway-aimed WE WILL ROCK YOU tour as well the Alley Theatre's A FEW GOOD MEN, off-Broadway's FAT CAMP and BARE, Broadway's LYSISTRATA JONES and WICKED, plus TWILIGHT THE MUSICAL, brings you 'Jared's Broadway Boo's' #62 with viral internet sensation and Broadway alum of WICKED and MAMMA MIA- Carrie Manolakos! Check it out below!

Hottest Articles on BroadwayWorld.com from this weekend Sunday, October 20, 2013 - Sunday, October 20, 2013.

October 2013 has been an exciting month for the rock musical LIZZIE. The first large production of the musical was mounted by Theater Under the Stars' newest venture TUTS Undergound, a theatre series promising no revivals, no dead authors, and no boundaries. Likewise, on October 8, 2013, LIZZIE's theatrical concept double album was released, garnering glowing and positive reviews from critics. While they were in Houston performing in LIZZIE, I spoke with two of LIZZIE's hard rocking stars, Carrie Manolakos and Carrie Cimma, about their experiences recording the exceptionally fun and alluring album.

Earlier this summer, Theatre Under the Stars (TUTS) surprised us with the announcement of their newest endeavor TUTS Underground. With that announcement came the promise of 'No revivals - No dead authors - No boundaries,' and ultimately a cutting edge brand of theatre for Houston audiences. Kicking off TUTS Underground's inaugural season, the Houston premiere of LIZZIE, a musical about the axe wielding double-murderess Lizzie Borden, proves to be the perfect opener for a season of bold theatre.

TUTS Underground is a new venture and legacy for TUTS, Houston's largest nonprofit musical theatre company. Forged from the guidelines of "No revivals - No dead authors - No boundaries," TUTS Underground features productions that are edgy, captivating, rockin' and occasionally a bit risque.

I can't pinpoint the date that the musical LIZZIE first made a bleep on my radar, but I do know that by June 16, 2013, I was dying to hear the album. Living in Houston, Texas, I missed the LIZZIE pre-release listening party at Bowery Electric. Feeling as though Andrew Borden himself were locking me away from the album, my anticipation of the anachronistic hard-rock score left me dreaming of bloody axes and Victorian ladies turned punk-rock goddesses singing their hearts out. Luckily, after roughly four months of anticipation, I finally got my hands on LIZZIE, a theatrical concept double album, and I couldn't be more blown away.